Joshua/Parker to be shown live on Showtime in America
Showtime announced this afternoon that they would be televising the unification bout between heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua (WBA ‘Super’ & IBF) and Joseph Parker (WBO) live on March 31st. This will mark the sixth occasion that the British champion has appeared on the cable network, with his first appearance happening on June 25th 2016 in the first defence of his IBF title against Californian Dominic Breazeale.
All four belts will be on the line in the heavyweight division in March with the Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz bout on March the 3rd. The four combatants in the two fights having a combined record of 111-0 with 100 knockouts. Best part is that you can catch all the action in one place on Showtime.
“The heavyweight division is in the midst of a renaissance, and Showtime is delivering all of the pivotal bouts to our subscribers,” Stephen Espinoza, Showtime’s president of sports and event programing, said in a statement. “Anthony Joshua is a global superstar, and we’re proud to present his sixth, and perhaps most challenging, world title fight to the U.S. audience. Joshua vs. Parker will be the 12th heavyweight world championship match on Showtime since Deontay Wilder won his title in 2015, an undisputed industry-leading offering in boxing’s preeminent division.”
Of course it is in the best interests of Showtime to throw some serious capital behind the British Champion. With a fight between American WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder mooted in the not too distant future, they will no doubt fight hard to own the television rights to a bout which would be for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
As stated before on 3KingsBoxing.com this bout will mark just the second time in heavyweight history that two undefeated champions will contest in a unification fight, the first being Mike Tyson and Tony Tucker back in August 1987.
For the American audiences keen to tune into the action expect the fight to begin in the early evening for those on the East Coast and Mid Afternoon for those on the West. The bout will air live on pay per view on Sky Sports Box Office for those in the UK.
By: Aaron Cooper
